Insurance claims from California fires nearing $12 billion

The remains of the homes in the Coffey Park neighborhood are seen from the air in Santa Rosa on Oct. 10.

The remains of the homes in the Coffey Park neighborhood are seen...

State residents have filed 45,000 insurance claims to recoup close to $12 billion in losses from the wildfires in Northern and Southern California in October and December, state Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones said Wednesday.

The claims illustrate the extent of the devastation in what are the costliest fires in state history, Jones said.

“Whole neighborhoods were wiped out, as wind-driven flames destroyed thousands of homes, upended tens of thousands of residents’ lives and tragically killed more than 45 people across the state,” Jones said.

The claims reflect the loss of more than 32,000 homes, 4,300 businesses, and 8,200 cars and trucks, watercraft, farm vehicles and other equipment, Jones said.

The claims include those from the Wine Country fires in October as well as the Los Angeles and Santa Barbara county fires in December.

From the October fires, there are nearly 30,000 claims for a total value of $10 billion. In Southern California, the December fires have resulted in 13,300 claims totaling nearly $1.8 billion.

The number does not include losses from the Jan. 6 Montecito mudslide, in which at least 21 people died. The claims process for that disaster is still in early stages, Jones said.

Jones said the state is asking insurers to waive requirements that disaster claimants submit a detailed home inventory to recoup their losses. The requirements force victims to relive the “emotionally grueling loss of their most cherished possessions,” he said.